Chapter 169

Seeing how fierce Tukesiluo was, Jiang Mingyu's soldiers couldn't help but feel emboldened.

Can you so casually speak ill of Lord Shangmu's Black-faced Yama?

You seek death!

Seeing his bloody blade, two thousand East Ping city defense soldiers stepped back in unison by one step.

Seeing no one step forward, Tukesiluo swung his blade and lunged at Lu Kai, who had just insulted him.

Swift as a startled swan, agile as a roaming dragon.

By the time Lu Kai, pale as earth, reacted, Tukesiluo's blade was already a zhang away.

Cold sweat broke out on Lu Kai's skin; as he spun his horse to flee, he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Retreat to the city, hurry, hurry…"

Before he could finish the last word, his shrill cry cut off abruptly.

Suddenly lowering his head, Lu Kai saw the blood-dripping tip of a blade protruding from his chest.

In the instant before he died, Tukesiluo twisted his long blade violently, turning Lu Kai's body into a pile of shredded flesh.

The horrific sight froze every East Ping city defense soldier; beneath the city wall, not even a pin could drop.

Seeing this, Jiang Mingyu seized the moment to shout loudly.

"Soldiers, storm East Ping—kill!"

At his words, two thousand Shangmu troops charged fiercely toward East Ping's city gate.

Seeing Jiang Mingyu about to take East Ping, one of the city defense's hundred-commanders suddenly drew his sword.

"Brothers, with me—"

Before he could finish, his flying head saw his own headless corpse on the ground.

As he lost consciousness, he silently thought one thing.

"So fast a blade!"

Tukesiluo, having just taken another life, spoke with a voice colder than ice.

"Drop your weapons, or die."

Under his chilling gaze, the East Ping city defense soldiers, silent for a long while, slowly laid down their weapons.

Tukesiluo couldn't kill two thousand alone, but no one wished to be the first to test his blade.

Besides, Jiang Mingyu's two thousand Shangmu troops stood watching silently.

Seeing all weapons laid down, Jiang Mingyu turned to Tukesiluo.

"Disperse these two thousand, integrate them into our ranks—but anyone who dares stir trouble, kill without mercy."

As he spoke, he swept his sleeve.

"Enter the city."

The townsfolk had long since hidden away, and Jiang Mingyu paid them no mind, heading straight for the East Ping County Office.

Fifteen minutes later, East Ping County Office.

Looking at the thick ledgers before him on the desk, Jiang Mingyu issued a firm order.

"Open the treasury—except for East Ping's essential expenses, everything else is to be taken back to Yasimo Regional Military Commissioner's Office as military supplies."

As he surveyed the surroundings, a soldier sent to search suddenly burst in.

"Lord, it's bad—the county seal is gone."

What? The seal is gone? Jiang Mingyu was stunned.

"Have you checked all four corners?"

He had rebelled, but hadn't yet declared his own court—without the seal, how could he govern civil affairs?

This world was not like his world before he crossed over—there were no underground seal-carving trades yet.

The soldier nodded, still silent, when a shout came from outside.

"Lord, someone outside claims to be Lu Kai's private secretary, holding the county seal, and requests an audience."

Jiang Mingyu murmured inwardly that this was interesting, then curled his lips and spoke.

"Let him in."

Immediately, a tall, thin man with three long beards knelt before Jiang Mingyu.

"Your servant Shen Yulong bows to… Lord Jiang."

After thinking long and hard, unable to find a suitable title, he could only call Jiang Mingyu "Lord."

Seeing the seal in his hands, Jiang Mingyu exhaled in relief and asked,

"You're Lu Kai's private secretary, aren't you? Why is the county seal in your possession?"

Shen Yulong bowed his head, respectfully replying.

"I am indeed the private secretary of County Magistrate… Lu Kai. The seal has always been in my care."

"Lu Kai failed to recognize right from wrong and dared resist your army—he deserved his fate."

"I know Lord Jiang's future is boundless, and I know you need this seal—so I come to offer it and pledge my service."

Jiang Mingyu nodded, secretly smiling—he understood Shen Yulong's intentions; this man was indeed clever.

After telling Shen Yulong to rise, Jiang Mingyu continued.

"Your loyalty is appreciated, Shen Private Secretary—I won't refuse it. As Lu Kai's private secretary, you must know East Ping well?"

Holding the seal, he smiled warmly at Shen Yulong.

Shen Yulong smiled.

"I've served Lu Kai for three years—I know every blade of grass and tree in East Ping."

"Whatever you need, command me—I will answer without reservation."

Jiang Mingyu sat in a chair, speaking slowly.

"I have no orders for you yet—but since you came voluntarily and are clever, I shall temporarily entrust East Ping to you."

"Put simply—from today, you are the County Magistrate of East Ping."

What?

Shen Yulong thought he'd misheard; he hurriedly asked,

"Lord, are you serious?"

Jiang Mingyu's smile remained calm.

"I favor the clever, and those who recognize the times—that's why I entrust East Ping to you."

"But remember: my two thousand troops will garrison the city. Any hint of treachery, and I won't spare you."

These words echoed almost exactly what he'd said to Song Jue that day.

As always, with no loyal men at hand, he could only combine mercy and might to slowly build his own faction.

Shen Yulong nodded frantically, then fell to his knees.

"Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!"

Before Jiang Mingyu could speak further, a soldier rushed in through the heavy snow, visibly panicked.

"Lord, disaster!"

Jiang Mingyu frowned, irritably asking,

"What disaster? Did Ruan Chen break into Yasimo Regional Military Commissioner's Office?"

His mood spoiled, his tone carried a hint of defiance.

The entire Yasimo Regional Military Commissioner's Prefecture was about to fall into his hands—Ruan Chen hadn't even arrived yet; what disaster could there be? Jiang Mingyu thought.

But the soldier who rushed in seemed even more frantic.

"Lord, Colonel Zhou Xun of Luoxie City has led four thousand troops and surrounded East Ping!"

What?

Luoxie City, Zhou Xun—Jiang Mingyu immediately frowned.

"Explain clearly."

Meeting Jiang Mingyu's startled gaze, the soldier grimaced.

"I don't know how it happened—the Luoxie troops appeared as if they fell from the sky."

"It was snowing heavily; our guards hadn't reacted yet—we'd just entered the gate when we were surrounded."

"General Tu has already led men to the front—Lord, should you also go see?"

How could Jiang Mingyu not go?

First, he needed to understand the situation; second, he feared Tukesiluo, lacking strategy, might be outmaneuvered by this Zhou Xun.

Telling the equally tense Shen Yulong to stay put, Jiang Mingyu hurried out the door.

Though the enemy numbered only four thousand, Jiang Mingyu instantly grasped the gravity of the situation.

They had just seized East Ping and hadn't stabilized control when Luoxie's troops arrived.

Worse, he had just absorbed those two thousand East Ping city defense soldiers who had surrendered out of desperation.

If fighting broke out again, those city defense troops might stab him in the back.

Lu Kai had ruled East Ping for years—Jiang Mingyu didn't believe the entire city defense camp had no loyalists at all?

And another point—he couldn't understand: how had Luoxie's troops suddenly appeared here?

Coincidence was impossible—had Luoxie's Inspector Liu Biao also taken up the most popular path of the day: rebellion?

Riding in, Jiang Mingyu hadn't yet figured out what was happening when shouts from beyond the gate rode the cold wind toward him.